Please Note: Weight Watchers has changed it's program again. Click here to learn more about Weight Watchers latest program for 2020.
Some Successful Weight Watchers Struggle with Transitioning from Points Plus to Smart Points
I ran across this post over at Drizzle Me Skinny, where Kate, a successful Weight Watchers Lifetime Member, explains why she made the decision to switch back to PointsPlus after testing out the new SmartPoints Plan for three months.
She basically sums it up with this assessment:
After about a month of getting into the swing of the new point system I noticed my moods at the end of the day were different, and I was finding myself in the kitchen eating all sorts of snacks I normally never would have, a little of this, a little of that and next thing you know I am easily 10-20 points over my daily allowance of 30SP. This is because I wasn't buying or making the things I was so accustomed to on my points plus journey… because most things were about ⅓ of my allotted daily allowance. This new habit I had picked up was something I never did on points plus and I can sum that up to "restriction."
A lot of folks left comments expressing similar frustration that was tapping into feelings of deprivation leading to bingeing and weight gain. Not a good thing! And I'm sure not what Weight Watchers intended. Weight loss is such a mental game!
I know being told I can't have something is a real problem for me. I have this really spoiled inner child that rebels when told, NO.
So, I've learned to appease her by telling her that nothing is off limits provided she is willing to plan/budget for it. Most of the time it works.
This is why Weight Watchers is the only plan that works for me longterm. I can't live without bread, wine, chocolate, sweets, fat, sugar, pizza or potato chips forever. It's unrealistic for me and the way I want to live.
Other Weight Watchers Are Seeing Greater Success with SmartPoints
Another commenter's experience was just the opposite. SmartPoints is working for her:
For what it's worth, PointsPlus is what knocked me off of my goal weight. I loved the old original points plan and I could NOT make PP work for me. I found myself doing a lot of what you were doing and eventually, I quit WW in frustration of not having any good tools. I happened to join WW again just as they were rolling out SP (I had avoided it because I resented the PP plan). SmartPoints is working really well for me. I think the experience of many of us is: we have made one lifestyle change to embrace a program (Weight Watchers or otherwise) that works for us. We have success, and we find goal. If we are summarily pushed to a new mindset, when we like the one we have — and it’s working for us — we probably won't like it.
I think this is why I still have good feelings about the old WW exchange plan I followed to originally lose weight and achieve lifetime status. It was very restrictive, but the joy I felt getting slim and reaching goal is what I most remember.
Why Do Some Weight Watchers Programs Seem to Work Better Than Others?
As my leader explained during Friday's meeting: Weight Watchers has been around for more than 50 years and has changed the program dozens of times to stay in alignment with current dietary understanding, which continues to evolve.
Each and every program worked for the members that followed it. Many of us who have been with WW through the decades have witnessed this first hand.
The key is to lasting success is adjusting the program to best meet our individual needs. Question any group of successful Weight Watchers members and you'll discover that they're all doing things differently.
We all know what we are supposed to do - eat more fruits and vegetables and avoid sweet treats. The difficulty begins with actually doing it, as Mindless Eating expert Brian Wansink explains in this interesting article about tricking yourself into eating better:
The thrust of his research directly contradicts the prevailing wisdom in nutrition circles—that the way to improve America's diet is to teach people about the dangers of trans fats, refined sugar, and white flour. In Wansink's view, that's a losing battle—if we were rational eaters, the snack food industry would already be out of business. "There are a million nutritionists out there that tell you to eat an apple instead of a Snickers bar," he says. "I want to meet people where they're at."
Here's another great article that sums up why Weight Watchers is struggling as a business - because sensible eating and portion control can be boring and hard work. It's not extreme or sexy. It's not a silver bullet promising unrealistic results!
Can thinking differently help those struggling with SmartPoints?
I recently had this realization... with Weight Watchers SmartPoints, you can never hit your daily target and still lose weight!
Say What? The SmartPoints Target is a number designed to reflect OPTIMAL/NEAR PERFECT HEALTHY EATING FOR WEIGHT LOSS. So, it's possible to go way over your target and still lose weight...
I Regularly Exceed My WW SmartPoints Target While Managing to Maintain My Weight
When I first tested out SmartPoints, I began by just eating the way I regularly do to maintain my lifetime goal weight and was shocked to discover that I was consuming 50 to 60 SmartPoints per day!
That's way over my suggested SmartPoints target for maintenance! And I'm okay with that.
I eat a relatively healthy diet of mostly home cooked foods with occasional sweet treats. I enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner most nights.
I've been successfully maintaining for several years now the goal weight I set back when I was 28. Could I eat healthier and meet my SP target most days? Probably. Would I be happy? Probably not. And for me it's all about me finding my happy/healthy balance.
Remember that your daily SmartPoints is Simply a Target you are shooting for. You don't have to hit it to be successful! You just keep aiming for it! You can never hit it and still lose weight!!
You know yourself best and you should do whatever you need to, modify the program however you need to, to take care yourself. This is your life and you know yourself best!
The Correct Mindset is Critical to Lasting Weight Loss
Weight loss is a MIND - BODY challenge. It's as much psychological as it is physical. The correct mindset, thoughts and beliefs are just as important (or maybe more important) than what you eat.
Lasting weight loss happens with little incremental behavioral changes.
It takes awareness. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes practice. It takes creating new habits and changing your environment. It has to be a priority. You have to really really want it. You have to be willing to do the work. You have to be willing to learn from your mistakes and be kind to yourself.
There Are Lots of Ways Other Than Weight Watchers to Successfully Lose Weight
And the truth is that there are lots and lots of ways to lose weight. Heck, here's an example of a college professor who lost weight and got healthier on the junk food diet! You know yourself best so do what's best for you!!
Personally, I hate that you can no longer use a recipe's nutritional information to accurately calculate SmartPoints. Recipes must be run through the WW Recipe Builder to accurately determine SmartPoints which is time consuming.
I'm still a huge fan of the overall Weight Watchers model, with the accountability and support it provides. I believe Weight Watchers success is in their structure as a support network.
For me WW meetings are 30 minutes of sanity in an out of control food world. And I love the new WW Connect feature.
What do you think? Has Weight Watchers gone too far with Smart Points? Is it too restrictive? Or sustainable once you get used to it? Is it easier for new members than for those transitioning from Points Plus to SmartPoints?
Please share your thoughts. I really want to know so I can help be part of the solution to our weight loss and healthy eating struggles!
I'll also continue to provide both SmartPoints and PointsPlus for all new recipes for those of you sticking with the old plan.
PS - If you are tired of calculating/tracking Points or calories, check out why I've shifted to Intermittent Fasting after reading Eat Stop Eat!
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Amanda R
Thanks for the article, I did find it helpful. Right now I'm feeling very defeated on WW however. I'm allowed 32 points per day, and I feel like no matter how hard I try I go over my daily points and weekly points EVERY time. I've been doing it for 3 weeks now, and I'm super frustrated. I can't have dairy or gluten, and my flour/dairy substitutes are far higher in points so even the recipes (or most of them) aren't so straight forward for me. So I can't just go to the grocery store and buy a packaged frozen meal or use one of the smart ones meals. It's just a struggle, and I was on the old point system. Yesterday for example I treated myself to a kit kat bar; in the past it would be 5 points, and now it's 12. Craziness! I might just go back to my fitness pal, it was so much simpler
Martha McKinnon
Hi Amanda, Thanks for sharing your thoughts! I think we all have to find the system that works best for us.
Mj
I'm planning on starting WW in January, but am a. It nervous now after reading the comments! I did the old system 12 years ago and it worked great for me and that was before apps and smartphones that I was assuming would it much more convenient this time. But now I don't know if it's worth it?? I have no idea what SP are and how the plan has changed over the years but it doesn't sound good? For new users would you all still recommend WW? It doesn't sound like new users have the option to go back to PP? Feeling a bit bummed now.
Martha McKinnon
Hi MJ, The only way you'll really know is to give it a try!! The true success of Weight Watchers is in their structure as a support network. Many members are really loving the WW Connect Feature, which is a very safe, supportive on-line community accessed through the WW App which you get access to when you join! Try it for a few months!! Your investment will be minimal. If it doesn't work, you can always quit and try something else. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!! I'm wishing you much success in 2017!! - Warmly, Martha
Kathy
Hi,
What I would like to see a test done. If you took 100 slender people and analyzed their food and exercise for 1 day, how many would have been on track with smart points? How many would be on track with points plus? I suspect that the percentage that would be on track for smart points would be extremely less than on points plus. If 100 slender people cannot be on track, then logically the goal should first be to get the weight off on at least as healthy as the 100 slender people. WW smart points is trying to push for a good diet, however it is hard enough to pare down your eating. SP is definitely more restrictive. I bet the number of people who are on smart points and are happy with it have less than 75 pounds to lose. How to you think people end up with having more than 100 pounds to lose? Too much junk food eating, then to expect them to drop down to almost no junk food eating? Too unrealistic for long term as required for 100 plus pounds to lose. I still have more than 100 lbs to lose. I have lost over 50. I am at this time not trying to be healthier than the those 100 slender people, but just to be one of those 100 slender persons.
After that take the next steps if I feel the need to.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Kathy, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that the definition of healthy eating is dynamic and based on where you are on your weight loss journey. The best way to lose weight and keep it off, which is ultimately good for your health, is to make changes you can live with. Best of luck on your journey!!
Kelly Lynn
I understand so many people are frustrated with the new program. But like you said, you can go over your daily target and still lose weight. I lost .8 over Christmas. I tracked the best I could and made sure to get my steps. I was wayyyyy over my points and I was okay with that. PointsPlus didn't work for me. Though it could be because my mind wasn't in the right spot. I think any program will work as long as you work it.
I also don't like being told no. I like to eat. I'm not a drinker. I'd rather eat than drink my points. I love chocolate and ice cream and all kinds of sweets. At least once a week, my boyfriend and I go out to eat or order pizza. And I eat a lot of the pizza. I have a sweet almost every day. But it's about planning and accounting for it. Making it work for you. For example, if you give me cheap chocolate like M&Ms or Smarties, I just want to keep eating. But if you give me Lindor, my favorite chocolate, I will eat the one ball for 4 points and be completely satisfied. I love ice cream, so I opt for Chocolate Frozen Yogurt by Chapman's. I think it's only 4 sp for 1/2 cup. I love cheese and sometimes I'm not willing to spent 3 sp for 30 grams of cheese. But I can have 28 grams for 2 sp and who misses those 2 extra grams. If I want more cheese, I can have 40 grams for 3 sp. The trick is working the plan. I don't eat meat so I can really see how frustrating it is for vegetarians. I have a protein shake in the morning with a good quality protein powder, but I also eat soy. If you don't eat soy, I can definitely see how frustrating it is.
I wonder if the people who gained weight aren't eating enough. We want to be perfect, but we're human. We have to be okay with going over our points. Like you said, it's just a target. I know my body and I have to eat more. SmartPoints got me back to goal. I lost over 80 on Momentum but would choose a 100 calorie snack of junk over an apple for the same amount of points. But now I choose to eat apples for 0 sp. I gained over 30 pounds back. I don't think it was because of PointsPlus; it's because I wasn't in a good mindset. But when SP came out, I was ready and in a good place. The new program is exactly what I needed.
People need to find what works for them. We all know too much sugar is bad and if we're reaching for 100 calories snacks over fruit than I think we're looking at is as a diet, not a lifestyle. Yes, sometimes we need a treat. I know I do. But I go with the ones I love because then they are worth the points. We have to be in the right mind and if we feel like this is a diet, we're going to feel deprived and going to want to eat more. So we have to find what works for us and everyone is different. The important thing is being healthy and do what works for you.
As for WW doing this because of the money, yes, they are a business, but they need to keep up with the time and changes. I don't think they change to make us buy new things. They change because it's the research. I agree that they need to look at fat a bit better, but counting sugar is really important. If WW never changed, I'd still be choosing unhealthy food over fruit that equaled the same in points. And even before my time as a WW member, we'd still be eating liver and fish all the time. WW has to change, but you don't need to buy new scales or cookbooks. A cheap scale at any store would do you just fine!
Getting healthy is for you. This is your journey. Make the program, whatever program or weight loss strategy you're on, work for you. You must work the program. The program doesn't work you. 🙂
Martha McKinnon
Hi Kelly Lynn, Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and experiences. Great insights!! We really appreciate it 🙂
Amy Marie
It is important for all us to understand what happens to bread, pasta, ice cream and other sweet and carb heavy foods once they are in our body. WW has updated the program to adjust to the new research in nutrition. I found that after reading and understanding, I don't crave my former favorite food mac and cheese because it's not worth it to me. A great reference is a book called SugarBusters. It is another diet but the best parts are the medical explanations about carbs and sugar. You will have a better understanding of the WW plan. Starting in June 2018 the new FDA labeling rules will be enforced and we will see 'added sugar' on food labels which will make our choices a lot easier.
Mary Rose
I found this thread when I was trying to make up my mind about continuing to weigh in a WW. I am lifetime and usually stay within my weight range but need to pay from time to time. I have made an honest attempt with both the technology changes (poorly handled in my opinion) and Smartpoints. Despite what I have read on this forum, I do not agree that this is a healthier diet than points plus. For starters, the healthy requirements like dairy and healthy fat are gone. I just saw a sample day of Oprah's in a magazine article about her. She had wine but no dairy and not enough fiber. I have osteoporosis - mostly inherited but I tried to always either drink milk or take calcium supplements. My doctor told me over a year ago when I was diagnosed that the supplements are not as well absorbed as natural sources and moreover their use increases the risk of calcium deposits in the arteries. On PointsPlus, I could drink 3 cups of milk a day for 6 points. That has now become 9 points - even though 3 cups of skim milk only have 240 calories and no fat. WW looked simply at the 12 grams of sugar per cup and decided it was a choice that needed to be penalized. The lactose in milk is no more harmful than the fructose in fruit - an orange, by the way, has twice as much fructose as a cup of milk. My husband needs to limit his protein intake so the lower points in fish and chicken do not really help me. By the time I drink my milk, eat the whole grains I need for fiber and potassium, and add healthy oil, I have used most of my daily points without getting close to 1200 calories. This makes not sense but I hate to quit WW after all these years. I am hoping they will make another change soon.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Mary Rose, Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. I truly think that the real success of WW is in its structure as a support network. I'm also a lifetime member currently weighing slightly less than under my goal weight. As an experiment I tracked using SP for a few days eating what I typically eat to easily maintain my goal. It came out to 50-60 SmartPoints! Why not just eat as you did under PP and track and determine what your appropriate SP target for you??? That way you can keep going to WW and also eat in a way that works for you 🙂 Hope this helps. All my best. - Martha
Rebekah Anderson
Hello, does anyone know a good PP group to follow online?
I did PP 5 years ago and lost weight. I stopped going to meetings when I got sneers and glares from the other women. They were looking for excuses to eat junk, and I got myself up from 5 minutes on the treadmil, to lifting wieghts and jogging. So meetings don't work for me. I went for support and got meanness.
Since then I had surgery, post-op infections, and medication that packed on the pounds. I found Nourishing Traditions, and my health greatly increased with whole milk, whole grains, and coconut oil. And lots of keifer.
I can squeeze those foods into the PP system. But all those immune-boosting super foods are heavily penalized under SP, which makes no sense to me.
So I need a support group online, where no one can sneer at me, and I can stay with PP until WW gets off the South Beach fad.
Any suggestions?
Amy Daniel
I have been a member of Weight Watchers since 1971 (I was 17 when I joined.) I have been on every WW program, and when I tried to transition to SM the first time, I was on the PP plan. It was very difficult for me, I basically rebelled, and quit going to the meetings and as a result I gained way above my lifetime membership goal. A year later after feeling so disgusted with myself, I decided to give SM a try. For me it is much easier now, after I deprogrammed the PP out of my brain. I feel more satisfied, and find that I am not really craving carbs and sweets anymore. I have found that I can still work in my goodies and treats, in moderation, and I am losing much better to get back to goal. In my opinion maybe the PP was way to lenient, and perhaps steering back to the older programs of limiting the sugar and carbs might have been the magic key for me. I have adjusted now to the Smart Points and really like it. I do think it is easier to start new and fresh on it, rather than transition from the previous Points Plus. At least it is working for me, and hope you will give it another chance.
Amy Daniel
In my previous comment I noticed I abbreviated Smart Points incorrectly. I mean to say SP (for SmarPoints.) Just wanted to make that correction. Thank you.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Amy, Thanks for sharing your experiences. What you are saying makes a lot of sense to me. You really need to have your head in the right place for any program to succeed. Transitioning from one plan to another can be challenging, especially if you are a creature of habit.
Adrienne
Hi there, weight watchers member here! Here's a lil bit about me...I'm a 35 year old woman who is 5'4" and weighs 170. I joined WWs June of 2014 at 200lbs, in about 8 months I got down to 142lbs on points plus. But sadly to say during 2015 to now I gained back 30 plus pounds. So I rejoined. I've been back on WWs for 3 months and can't even lose 10 pounds!! I find myself binging after 2 weeks of being strict with the new smart points. I wish there was a way where members can chose their best point system that worked great for them. If that was real I would so go back to the POINTS PLUS! I was eating good and losing 1-3 pounds ever week!! At one point I lost 6 lbs 2 weeks straight! My WWs speaker asked if I was eating and I said oh yeah all of my points! I so feel like I'm wasting my money every month cause I'm not going anywhere. But still stick with wws hoping I'll go back to what I was from 2014. I know wws changes their points system a lot....just really wish members can chose a points system for themselves! Oh well good luck to all of you! Maybe my wishfull thinking will come true someday! ?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for sharing your experience. What would happen if you just ate like you used to on Points Plus? You might be over in SmartPoints but still lose weight!! Best of luck. - Martha
Natalie Holland
Hey - Over ten years ago, I lost over 3 stone with weight watchers, (whatever the system was then!). I spent the next 10 years putting on a stone and losing it, but basically maintaining. I had a stubborn stone that I was finding it hard to lose, so I decided to go back on WW and support my husband - who has a lot to lose. I'm not actually overweight, so I'm on really low points! I only have 24 points a day and I'm finding it pretty brutal to be honest. I remember being on WW before and remembering certain restaurant dishes were fine for me --- now they have a massive amount of points and I find almost everything, (aside from the odd very plain salad) is too many points for me eating out. Half a bottle of wine is 10 points!!!! whhhhhhaaaattt!!! I do also exercise regularly and run and I am feeling like I'm barely eating right now. I'm in the first week, so I don't know how much weight I've lost. It just feels like a struggle. On the other hand, my husband has TONNES of points and isn't eating them all each day, because there are so many. Feeling right now that the points I'm on are just too low - but also worried about using the exercise points.
Caryn
The problem I am having is that I use lots of fruits and vegetables in my cooking. If you eat them in big chunks, you're fine. if you puree them to make sauces, or put them in a smoothies, you have to count them as points. I'm meeting my daily points, but when I check what I'm eating against an app that counts calories, I'm coming in around 900-1000 a day. I don't have the energy I did when I was staying in the 1200-1300 range before and I am having a difficult time fighting cravings and not eating at night - another sign that I'm not eating enough. I exercise 90 mins -2 hrs. daily. And the scale hasn't budged.
When I try to chat with someone I'm given the 50 years experience and scientific research and all calories aren't the same routine. I get that. But I always thought that eating too little a day was not a good idea. Am I wrong?
Basically I joined WW because it was easy that I didn't have to track vegetables prepared "clean" and I tend to splurge on the weekends and that's where I thought the weekly points might help. But I don't know how much longer I can stick with it, especially since my daily allowance will decrease even further once I/if lose weight.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Caryn, The way I understand the current WW program is that if you puree/blend fruits and vegetables into drinks you are to count the points. But if you are eating them in soups, sauces, etc, they do not count. I think you have to use your weight loss and energy as a guide. I'm a big believer in finding a system that is sustainable for the long term. I don't do anything to lose weight that I'm not willing to do to keep it off. Listen to your body and what it's telling you! It knows best!
Caryn
When I first started on WW I was tracking the fruits and vegetables I put in my morning smoothie as though I ate them. It wasn’t until I created a recipe that I learned I had to count them. Rather than ditch my smoothie I eliminated an afternoon snack to make up for the extra points. I am still tracking my calories using another free app in addition to Weight Watchers. Before I counted my fruits and vegetables in WW my daily caloric intake was around 1200 calories. When I count the fruits and vegetables in my morning smoothie in WW my daily caloric intake goes down to 900-1000 calories. Is that safe? I work out about 15 hours a week. I don't know if that's safe.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Caryn, I'm no expert but that calorie count seems too low to be sustainable for the long term.
andrea
I gained almost all my weight back the I lost on point plus. smart points has not worked for me but I am so addicted to my phone and the ww app that I don't know how I would count the points or even find the values s I continue to try but struggle
kim
I have had wonderful success with WW in the past. Started back at age 48 and have been struggling since i started back. Two months and i haven't reached a 10 lb loss yet. I feel hungry and deprived. I did not feel this way with PP program. I believe i will give it another week and see what happens and if iam still not getting results, i will switch to the PP instead of the SP.
Sam
I started in early November on SmartPoints and then it just shifted to another system. I've been averaging a loss of 2 lbs a week and losing on both. I was frustrated by the new Freestyle system because just when I got my hands around portion control, my daily points dropped and I was forced to make more choices. On the positive side, what the heck was I doing eating so much dairy anyway? I know I'm a WW and even weight loss noob, but just want to share a positive experience.
Margie Badger
I’m vegan and am so frustrated by the amount of work it takes to figure out points on the app from putting all the info in.
On the other side, the free points, since i’ve Increased my bean intake and don’t count those points, i’ve Gained a few pounds. Not sure this free style is going to work so well for me
GJ78newknees
New member here and I have no idea where to find SP PROGRAM for me.
Most WW tabs I investigate show pics of food with multiple ingredient recipes. Pretty but I joined WW to simplify my dieting experience.
Martha McKinnon
This isn't WW!!! This is Simple Nourished Living!
Denese Kassay
Thank you for sharing this.